what has the Lord been trying to teach me lately, you might ask? patience. patience. patience. this may be because i am so impatient its kind of ridiculous, and i needed a little humbling. these past couple weeks have been so hard, yet so easy and humbling. i don't even know what to do with myself right now. so, as you know, i was suppose to be able to turn my mission papers in on february 5, but after meeting with the stake president, i had to get some other stuff done, which to get appointments and all set up took longer. so by the time the stake president got all the things he needed, it was february 15 (doesn't seem that long, but to me it was a lifetime). so i called my stake pres that night to make sure everything was situated and that we could get my papers sent in asapppp. i was beyond elated. i was so excited i couldn't even contain myself: it was finally happening!!!
buttttttt.... sometimes the Lord has a different plan. while on the phone with the stake pres, he said something that just about stopped my heart: you have to wait. WAIT?!?! WHAT??!! "there is a rule set by the church that you have to wait ONE YEAR after the date all this stuff happened." uhhhh you've got to be kidding me. that would put me at the end of octoberish. that is wayyyyyyy too long. i mean, what happened had nothing to do with anyone else: it was all me myself and i. and i had completely overcome this trial in my life. i was definitely devastated.
although i was disappointed because of this, i learned alot about myself and how much i've grown in the past few months after deciding to serve.
1. normally i would be angry with God because of this. but i wasn't, not even the least bit
2. i realized that i have complete faith and trust in the Lord. i put it all in his hands, and he will put me where he needs me WHEN he needs me there. there is this quote by Pres. Howard W. Hunter that says, "If our lives and faith are centered on Jesus Christ and His restored gospel nothing can ever go permanently wrong." i truly understand this now. with my faith in Christ and this gospel, and living the right way. nothing will go permanently wrong. it will ALL work out in the end.
3. God's plan for us is always more important than our plan for ourselves. we just have to listen to Him, follow his footsteps, and He will guide us where he needs us.
yesterday in church our stake relief society pres shared a quote by someone who i do not know, but he said,"God has let the Sisters of the church loose on the world." true that. true that. i know this church is true, i know Christ atoned for our sins, i know that God has a plan for me, even though i don't quite understand it yet. i am excited to go on my mission later this year, for thats when the Lord needs me.
much love, castalia
